Rigid polyurethane foams with reduced content of petrochemical polyols

Fats and vegetable oils were used as renewable raw materials for the synthesis of bio-polyols via a two-step process involving epoxidation and oxirane ring opening. The obtained products were characterized by determining epoxy and hydroxyl values, as well as by FTIR analysis.
The suitability of bio-polyols was evaluated by producing rigid polyurethane foams using a one-step method. The foaming process was assessed based on characteristic times, while the resulting materials were analyzed in terms of apparent density, hardness, and cellular structure (SEM).